Archive for June, 2008

by Himanshu Bhatt

The Sun, 23 june 2008

GEGORGE TOWN: Former Gerakan and MCA member Lim Boo Chang began a new political career with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as the deputy head of the party’s Bukit Gelugor division here.

Lim showed up at the inauguration meeting of the division yesterday, declaring that Malaysians could no longer rely on mono-racial parties for the future of the country.

“PKR is therefore the best choice for Malaysians,” he said in his speech.

The division’s new head is Raveentharan V.Subramaniam, who is also Batu Uban assemblyman.

Lim had joined PKR last week, citing the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysian politics as a persuasive factor. 

Lim, who led 350 of his supporters to join PKR, said the decision was made “after careful evaluation of the present political scenario of our country and a deeper understanding of the political objectives of PKR.”

He had resigned from MCA on April 4.

The inauguration was officiated by PKR state secretary Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, who is also Penang state executive councillor.

Malik noted in his speech that Bukit Gelugor was one of PKR’s last two Penang divisions to be approved by the Registrar of Societies. The other division is Batu Kawan.

He questioned why the ROS had taken two years to approve the divisions when the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) formed by PKR member Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan was given approval within weeks.

June 18 2008 marked the 100th day in office by the Pakatan Rakyat Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng, a young professional from Malacca who was brought up in a political family by none other than the seasoned opposition figure Lim Kit Siang.

As narrated by Guan Eng in his Q n A in the Star today, he would need at least two terms to complete his task, so what is a mere 100 days period afterall.

Some of the BN leaders in Penang ,who actually stated earlier that they would refrain from commenting on the new state government’s performance for at least six months, have now one by one jumped out in eagerness to either criticise or attack it as against their own words. Is this another poor sign of BN’s desperation?

Leadership by example may be a familiar slogan of BN. But if that was truly practised by them, then how could there be so many unresolved land scamps in Penang as unearthed by the new administration, and why is it that none of the Ex-Co Members of the previous administration dared to accept the challenge to come forward just to help clear the mess, or the very least, their own names?

In fact, Dato’ Lee Kah Choon was the first and only one from their own rank then to have had come out in the open to ask for accountablity in this regard. But as expected, people like him could never survive in BN for long. The timely acceptance by Dato’ Ron Tan Kee Kwong to serve in the Selangor Land Office should, in fact, be viewed in a positive light too, if one believed that people like him could help in the cleaning up of the dusty files there, though many may have already been destroyed by the invisible hands upon their unexpected departure.

The new policy of CAT, i.e. competence, accountability, and transparency, is, indeed, a qualitative leap in comparison to that of the previous state government. No efficiency could be achieved without competent human and technical resources, and the new state government has shown its full awareness of it. State and Local Governments’ minutes are now generally accessible to the general public ,as compared to everything which was supposed to be classified under the OSA phobia in the past. What is needed is probably a new Freedom of Information Enactment of Penang. And hopefully, the suggestion of a free media for the 5 PR states could also be materialised soon.

The empty threat by the previous administration that if the opposition came into power in Penang there will be investment flight has become a joke now. With the securing of two major investments worth RM 1.3 bil by the new state government, it is not only a moral victory of the people, but also a renewal of confidence in Penang as a viable investment hub in the Asia Pacific region. It is advisable for Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, the ex-CM, try not to appear to claim credit in this matter, as the Penang people are fed-up with such face-saving squabbles but hoping to see more successes in this direction.

The priority of the tourism industry in Penang have also changed to be more focused on local products and brands, not forgetting the on-going promotion effort of projecting Penang as a mini-Asia, with its colourful historical, architectural, and cultural niches. We expect to see some meaningful improvement of our existing tourism products such as the Botanical Garden, Penang Hill, and others soon, not forgetting the upkeep of their supporting infrastructures such as road-widening and creation of more parking facilities.

There have been many new measures surfaced in the first 100 days of the new Penang state government which are commendable, and the list could go on. However, what is important is that new priorities are set because of a new political direction, and the emphasis on humbleness and thriftiness is something that was seriously missing in the previous administration, whose leader frankly admitted after 308 in retrospect for their arrogance of power as one of the causes of their defeat.

The 100 days experience in Penang is something refreshing and memorable to the vast majority of Penangites, save and except a few apologists of the previous administration for obvious reasons. Therefore, so long as the Pakatan Rakyat government from top to bottom in Penang stay united and keep reminding themselves of the principle that it is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, it will steer Penang ahead towards a better tomorrow to be clear of all distractions and obstacles.

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim accused UMNO for being desperate by quoting him out of context. He said this at the Penang City Stadium during the PAKATAN RAKYAT’S MEET-THE-PEOPLE’S SESSION on 15-06-08 which was held at the Panang City Stadium on 15-06-08.

According to the charismatic leader whose (and other PAKATAN RAKYAT leaders’) popularity attracted a big crowd of about 20,000 in a short notice of about 5 days just before the event, UMNO boys in a political training session quoted him out of context for reasons best known to themselves. They quoted via a tape-recording only part of his speech delivered at one function earlier that “Chinese children are our children, Indian children are our children”, but mischievously left out the first part of his sentence that “Malay children are our children”.

One wonder this is healthy practice for a party which claims to be the ‘back-bone’ of a ruling coalition to bluff their own members about something which they do not even believe themselves in the first place. This practice of self-deception is truly an act of desperation, or what you call the ‘kia su’(or afraid to lose) attitude in Singapore.

Dato’ Seri Anwar also took BN federal government to task on the recent fuel price-hike. He once again promised to bring down the fuel prices on the next day when the PAKATAN RAKYAT came into power. He actually asked the attentive crowd whether they preferred all those pompous ‘corridors’ or to lower down the fuel prices. And as expected, he was given a thumping assurance of the latter by the cheering crowd.

The PR leader dismissed the talk that it was irresponsible for him to have made such a promise to reduce fuel prices, amidst the environment of global increase of fuel prices. To him, Malaysia may not follow Venezuela whose petrol price was only 16 sen per litre, but definitely our petrol price should never be more expensive than our neighbour Indonisia, a petroleum net- importing country. He recalled the days when he was the Finance Minister, the Petronas’s annual profit was only about 50 billion but now it was more than 70 billion. So, there was no valid reason that the rakyat should shoulder for all these mega projects in the name of development by paying what supposed to be the export price of petroleum.

Dato’ Seri Anwar quipped that nowadays wherever he went, people always asked him ‘bila?’ (when?), and he reacted with ‘bila apa?’(when what?) In clear reference to the formation of the next government, he reiterated that what he said earlier was forthcoming but what he wanted was everything to follow the constitution and the lawful process.

On the so-called ‘moral’ issue of those who were elected on the BN ticket if were to cross-over to PR, the de facto leader posed an interesting question as to whether it is ‘moral’ to continue to support a coalition which exploits its own people? For that, the crowd’s reaction was a clear no!

The earlier speech of Mat Sabu already warmed up the spirit of anti-fuel price hike. Good effort was also being made by the Youth Wing of PKR and Pas to collect thousands of signatures to be handed to the Pak Lah’s administration to reduce the fuel prices. The senior of them all, the MP of Ipoh Barat Lim Kit Siang, promised to bring up this issue in Parliament starts next Monday.

The young and articulate Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng then took the stage, as the host and the last speaker, by elaborating on the new state government’s compassionate policy of handing out RM100 cash to every poor family of the state. Though it may be only a one-off gesture, in comparison with BN’s cruel and irresponsible fuel-policy, which one will the rakyat chose?

As succinctly pointed out by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the latest inhumane policy of the BN is something unconscionable and indefensible. The rakyat’s hope is clearly in the PAKATAN RAKYAT now!

(李永杰 | 6月16日 傍天宣布率领350支持者集体加入公正党，宣称该党能够为他们提供一个有效的政治平台，同时宏观政治的改革。 现年53岁的林武灿之前曾先后加入民政党和马华。

他是民政党元老林维雄之子，于1995在民政党旗帜下中选柑仔园州议员，并在1999年大选成功守土。 他与槟城峇六拜州议员林建安在1999年大选后跳槽马华公会，获得马华委派在2004年大选攻打武吉牛汝莪国会议席，但是不敌行动党强人卡巴星。

在本届大选无缘上阵后，林武灿在今年4月4日以厌倦党内斗争为由，宣布退出马华，当时已有传言指他将加入公正党。今天的宣布印证这项传言。

林武灿在文告中表示，包括他自己的351张入党申请表已在昨天，于槟城峇央峇鲁交予公正党实权领袖安华。 他也说明，加入公正党的原因是，“在308 之后，一个两党制已经出现，而且如同以往任由单一政党所操纵的马来西亚将是不健康的，所以我们的目的是要达到一个真正的议会民主和自由社会”。

列举选择公正党五大理由 文告也列举他们选择公正党的5项理由，首先，公正党是真正的多元政党，反对种族和宗教极端主义；其次，该党是强调温负责任，透明度同时反对贪污滥权；第三，它重视社会正义；第四，它为民族正义与自由的斗争；第五，该党急需人才已建立一个可行与可靠的政府。

他在接受《当今大马》电访时表示，他个人敬佩公正党的言行一致，“例如安华在反对马来主权的事情上，他即使在巫统发源地甘榜巴鲁也是讲同样的话，这是值得我们敬佩的，他言行一致”。

“希望这次是最正确选择” 针对他过去两次转换政党是否为没有政治原则表现的问题，林武灿回应说，他希望这次是最正确的选择。 “政党其实只是个平台，政治斗争的平台，我们不能够盲目地效忠，政党也是要为人民谋求福祉的。” “安华驳斥国会议员跳槽不道德的说法是没错的，难道继续支持一个剥削人民的政党，又是有道德的吗？只要问心无愧就好了。”

与丘吉尔两度换党相提并论 他也举出前英国首相丘吉尔的例子为辩护，“尽管他从保守党换去自由党，之后再从自由党回到保守党，但是他至今，还是被认为是对世界和平有着重大贡献的领袖”。 林武灿指出，公正党能够提供一个宏观的政治改革的机会，即在民主自由、司法独立等政治课题上，为他提供发挥的平台。 “我没有为过去的政治经历感到遗憾，我珍惜过去的机会，让我可以有机会在微观的政治层次为人民服务，不过，在宏观的政治改革上，它们却没有这个能力。公正党能够提供过去所没有的宏观政治改革的机会。”

他同时也呼吁国阵成员党应该选择与人民站在一起，进而考虑脱离国阵。 “我们必须选择站在人民这边，或者是在其对立面，我也呼吁国阵成员党能够考虑离开国阵。” 询及为何没有考虑加入在主导槟州政府的行动党时，林武灿表示，“这是我们大家的决定，我就遵循大多数的意见。其实在民联里，三党都是平等的，因此没有太大差别。未来我们也会协助行动党，巩固民联在槟城的执政”。

(by Himanshu Bhatt, June 16 2008)

Former Gerakan and MCA strongman Lim Boo Chang has moved to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), citing the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysian politics as a persuading factor to join the federal Opposition party.

PKR adviser and de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Lim’s membership during his visit to Penang yesterday.

Lim, who led 350 of his supporters to join PKR, said the decision was made “after careful evaluation of the present political scenario of our country and a deeper understanding of the political objectives of PKR”.

There was a minor stir in the City Stadium when Lim showed up smiling at the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership’s meet-the-people session last night.

Lim had resigned from MCA on April 4.

Lim stunned the Penang political scene in late 1999 when he and Lim Chien Aun, son of former Chief Minister and Gerakan founding-member Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, crossed over from Gerakan to MCA just days after the Barisan Nasional (BN) won the general election.

It led to Gerakan having fewer seats than MCA in the state assembly, resulting in a heated wrangling between the two parties as Gerakan members got concerned about MCA’s bid to take over the chief minister’s post.

Lim, also the son of another Gerakan founding-member, the late Datuk Lim Ee Heong, was also part of the team that lent its weight behind tycoon Datuk Joseph Chong’s “famous” bid to topple then Gerakan president Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Lim Keng Yaik in the 1996 party elections.

Chong, who lost the election, later revealed that it was then deputy prime minister Anwar who encouraged him to challenge Keng Yaik.

In a statement issued yesterday, Lim said: “We felt that a two-party system has emerged after March 8t 12the General Election, and it is healthy for Malaysia not to be dominated by any single party as before if our aim is to achieve a true parliamentary democracy and free society.”

He stressed that PKR was “truly multi-racial” in its set-up and steadfastly and consistently against racism, chauvinism and religious extremism.

“Secondly, it practises politics of moderation, accountability and transparency and has declared war on corruption, cronyism and nepotism.”

“Thirdly, its stance for social justice made it more relevant to the middle and lower strata of our society which cut across race while it is pro-business and progress.”

He also expressed admiration for the party’s fight for democracy, justice and freedom, such as through the exposure of the Lingam video clip, as a factor that has contributed to healthier growth of the judiciary system.

“Fifthly, it is very important to strengthen PKR and hence PR to assist them in their administration of the five states under their charge,” he added.

He stressed that PR should be strengthened to always be a viable and credible alternative government to the BN.

我们这群一共是351位来自槟州各行业、各民族、及各阶层人士，在谨慎衡量当今我国政治局势以及深入了解人民公正党的政治理念以后，毅然决定参加人民公正党。

我们参加人民公正党的申请已在昨晚获得党领袖拿督斯里安华在槟城峇央峇汝正式宣布接受。

我们认为在308 之后，一个两党制已经出现，而且如同以往任由单一政党所操纵的马来西亚将是不健康的，所以我们的目的是要达到一个真正的议会民主和自由社会。

以下是我们选择人民公正党的主要理由：-

1. 它是一个真正的多元政党， 并且一贯以来坚持抗拒种族主义，沙文主义以及宗教极端主义。

2. 它落实温和政治，负责任，透明度以及向贪污，朋党主义和裙带主义宣战。

3. 它对社会正义的立场使它对我们社会的各族中下层更为贴切，虽然它也支持商业与进步。

4. 它为民主正义与自由的斗争，例如它对林甘短片的暴露已对我国私法制度的更独立，更可信赖的健康发展做出贡献。

5. 当前对于加强人民公正党 以及人民联盟是非常重要的，以便协助它们在五州的治理，以及确保民联能够成为随时可以替代国阵的一个可行与可靠的政府。

我们都强烈认为我们参加人民公正党的决定是一种为公众利益的行动，因此我们必须向公众告知我们的动向。我们也希望更多人会以步我们的后尘，一同参加人民公正党以展开永恒的社会改革。

我们其中约半数人曾经参加过其他政党，另半数人则为首次参政者。尽管如此，我们都衷心地早日希望看到一个由拿督斯里安华以及他的团队在一个新马来西亚人经济议程里所定立的一个更美好的马来西亚愿景。

我们盼望社会的支持以展开我们的政治斗争，以使到马来西亚成为一个每个人都可居住的更美好以及更安全的地方。

A group of us numbering 351 people of all races and from different trades and different strata of Penang have decided to join Parti KeADILan Rakyat after careful evaluation of the present political scenario of our country and a deeper understanding of the political objectives of PKR.

Our applications to join PKR as members had been accepted by the party as announced by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of the Party, in Bayan Baru, Penang, last night.

We felt that a two-party system has emerged after March 8th, 2008, and it is healthy for Malaysia not to be dominated by any single party as before, if our aim is to achieve a true parliamentary democracy and a free society.

There are a few important reasons as to why we chose PKR:

Firstly, it is truely multi-racial in its set-up and is steadfastedly and consistently against racism, chauvinism and religious extremism.

Secondly, it practises politics of moderation, accountability and transparency and has proclaimed a war on corruption, croynism and nepotism.

Thirdly, its stance for social juistice made it more relevant to the middle and lower strata of our society which cut across race while it is pro-business and progress.

Fourthly, its fight for democracy, justice and freedom such as the exposure of Lingam’s video clip have contributed to a helthier growth of our judiciary system to become more independent and trusworthy.

Fifthly, it is very important to strenghten PKR and hence Pakatan Rakyat to assist them in their adminitration of the 5 states under their charge as popularly decided by the people on March 8th, and to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat is always a viable and credible alternate government to the Barisan Nasional.

We collectively and strongly beleive that our decision to join PKR is a matter of public interests and we should inform the public of our move. We also hope that more people could join the PKR in the process of causing constant social change which has been stepped up lately through the reform movement.

Some of us had been involved in politics but some are new blood in politics. However, all of us sincerely wish to see a better tomorrow for Malaysia as championed by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his team as comprehensively laid out in the New Malaysian Economic Agenda.
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We look forward to the society’s support to carry out our political struggle so as to make Malaysia a better and safer place for everyone to live in.

In today’s Gerakan, the most decent and respectable leader to the general public and even to their opponents, if one may think of, is none other then Dr. Toh Kin Woon.

Dr. Toh did not contest in the last election, though he served as the Assemblyman for Macang Bubok for three consecutive terms, apart from being an Ex-Co Member of the Penang State Government.

Though he was a state leader of the BN, the fact that he received the Lim Lean Geok’s Award from the United Chinese Schools Boards and Teachers Unions this year for his relentless effort in the field of Chinese education, is a sign that he was well received by even the critiques of the BN government.

Dr. Toh is an idealist, that may be his strength but his weakness too. The fact that he could only serve as a Bukit Mertajam Division Chairman of Gerakan for only one term tells something. And that his protege as a MPSP Councillor was also short-lived was also another sign of the factional problem that he was facing then, even though he was supposed to be ‘high-up’ as a member of the Gerakan think-thank.

Dr. Toh’s qualification as a knowledgable economist made his ideas much sought for, not just by his own party leaders but even by the present People’s Alliance government in Penang. Through a private limited company called Seri, the latter managed to continue to receive the benefits of his analysis, advice and opinions, especially on the issue of industrialisation and economic development in Penang.

Even the Gerakan leaders would not criticise Dr. Toh’s continug service to the Penang state government, in comparison to their harsh treatments to Lee Kah Choon who was compelled to leave Gerakan for his working for the Penang Development Corporation, and the on-going episode of suspension action against Dr. Tan Kee Kwong, who opted to work for the Selangor State government’s Land Office.

Lately, Dr. Toh made an astonishing proposition in Merdeka Review that Gerakan could consider to merge with PKR and DAP under the present circumstances. He said Gerakan should go back to its original idealism of social democracy and multi-racialism, and also not be apologetic for pulling out of BN for the fear of being branded as opportunist. He further questioned the role of Gerakan if BN or UMNO persisted to rule via racialism. On the other hand, he had also foreseen the obstacle ahead, as some individuals in the People’s Alliance may feel too arrogant to accept a party like Gerakan to their fold.

Indeed, Dr. Toh has truly lived up to the expectation as the conscience of BN. My feeling is that not only members in the People’s Allaince must pay heed to their de facto leader Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s advice by welcoming to their fold all those, including former members of BN, who could accept the ideals and agenda of the People’s Alliance, but they should also consider to expand the political partnership, including the absorption of BN components which are willing to defect.

However, Dr. Toh’s proposition, though sounds exciting and attractive as it is, may remain academic and a non-starter, so long as Tan Sri Dr.Koh Tsu Koon, the acting Gerakan President, maintains his subservient attitute that Gerakan shall unquestionably remain as a ‘die-hard’ loyalist of, and thus sink and swim with, the BN.

Since 308 2008, Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM) seemed to be shocked and grief over its dismal performance under the leadership of Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon by losing its crown jewel of Chief Minister-ship in Penang, and only winning 2 parliamentary and 4 state seats in the country.

The lost of BN in 5 states also spoiling the party’s chances of securing any city/local councillor posts therein, plus other benefits to their members and supporters such as awards and honours, as well as other state appointees in connection with political patronage.

What Gerakan could celebrate about may be the senators it could secure through the Federal Government, and the two Deputy Ministers’ posts which gave it a taste of trappings of power.

What is going to be worst would be the creation of a parrallal structure to the JKKK (Jawatan-kuasa Keselamatan dan Kemajuan Kampong) or the Village Security and Development Committee, by the Federal Government, whereby Gerakan local cadres would be slotted in to play a retrogressive role of competing with the state effort in the People’s Alliance (PA) domain in allocating government resources.  Similar structure of the sort such as a National Tourism Council had already been set up in Penang to dampen the state’s effort in promoting tourism, though that was done in the name of complement.

After the political Tsunami, Gerakan had tried hard to project itself by criticising the BN government policies, to the extent that it sounded almost like an opposition. But such  political hyprocracy could only make it appear to be opportunistic as long as it is part and parcel of the ruling structure of the Barisan Nasional coalition government. It could be called a pseudo opposition by best.

Many believe that the more Gerakan attacks the BN, the more the rakyat will see through the true colour of the BN, and the effectiveness of  the role of Gerakan in the internal check and balance machinery (or is there any?) of the BN. No wonder people like Lee Kar Choon, Dr. Ron Tan Kee Kwong(son of the late Dr. Tan Chee Koon),  and Rhinar Bhar had already abandoned Gerakan, for there are definitely better and more constructive things to do in this world then just being contented with as an appendix of BN in actual fact.

In the final analysis, Gerakan may have a positive role to play, but only if it truly maintains its multi-racial line (and not be bogged down with the sweet talk of non-racial line phobia for self-satisfaction and behaved chauvinistically), and is able to leave BN and survive on its own by rebuilding the party based on its founding idealism of social democracy, egalitarian and other cardinal principles.

Lately, what its Vice-President Dato’ Chang Ko Youn had stated in his interview in the Sun Daily was not thorough or scientific in analysis by merely attributing the BN’s defeat to the ‘excessiveness’ in speeches of a few UMNO leaders before the last election. One would wonder what is Gerakan’s stance on ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ which has been stepped-up and reemphasised recently? This is something Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon would like to avoid in his comment, but inescapably, silent is not golden, as silent could also mean consent.